On March 22, Yonkers Police arrested four men, charged with stealing Catalytic Converters from cars in Yonkers.
2nd Precinct plain clothes units were surveilling the area of Delano Avenue at Agawam and observed a catalytic converter theft in progress. As officers approached, the suspect vehicle took off and officers followed. The suspect vehicle attempted to evade officers on the New York State Thruway, however a blown tire forced them back onto Central Park Avenue; at Tuckahoe Road, they struck a marked police car before finally coming to a stop in the area of Underhill Street at Standish Avenue; the driver then attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by officers. A search of the vehicle yielded three catalytic converters and a battery-operated metal sawing tool. The four suspects were placed under arrest and face charges including felony grand larceny, felony auto stripping, obstruction, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest. Two of the suspects were residents of Pennsylvania and one was a resident of the Bronx.
The Yonkers Police is investigating recent catalytic converter thefts in our area, and would like to offer simple tips to help prevent future incidents:
What is a Catalytic Converter? A catalytic converter (CAT) is an emissions control device that’s in the exhaust system, found underneath a vehicle.
Why are they targets for theft? Inside a CAT are three precious earth metals: platinum, rhodium, and palladium. Criminals who steal CAT’s sell them for profit.
What can I do to protect myself and my vehicle? – Report suspicious behavior by calling the Yonkers Police at (914) 377-7900; emergencies dial 9-1-1 or 377-7777. Often times CAT thieves will prowl in the middle of the night; tools used may include a reciprocating saw – the entire event can happen in under a minute. If you hear metal sawing noises at night, it could be a CAT thief at work.
– Park in a garage or other secured area when possible.
– Park in a well lit area or near motion lights.
– Park in view of surveillance cameras, or have them installed to watch your driveway.
– Consider having your repair shop engrave your vehicle’s VIN number on the CAT, or even weld a cage over the CAT.
